1977: The beginning of the blind date with the daughter of the king

Chapter 695 Gong Xue Arrives in Hong Kong!

In July, Li Changhe returned to Hong Kong Island with Bao Yugang.

They didn't stay in Shanghai for long, but they spent nearly half a month inspecting the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port.

During this period, the investigation will not only focus on the current situation of Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, but also on negotiating with the relevant national departments regarding the port's positioning.

After all, for a country, ports are the core channels for foreign freight. A port needs to have a clear definition of what types of resources it imports and exports, how many port areas it builds, and which regions it serves.

After all, not far from Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, Shanghai also has Baoshan Port, and both sides need to consider their respective positions and potential conflicts.

Ultimately, the Hyundai Container Group, led by the Bao family, reached an agreement with Ningbo Port to jointly build a liquid chemical terminal at Zhenhai Port, mainly for petroleum and petrochemical products.

This is also based on the advantages of Zhenhai Port. After all, as the core area of ​​Ningbo Port, it already has a coal terminal port with a capacity of 100,000 tons. So, expanding to build a liquid chemical terminal is also within the planning of Ningbo Port.

In addition, the local side also intends to collaborate with Li Changhe's Hong Kong Electric to create a large-scale power plant, but the investment is too large, and Li Changhe needs to discuss it with the local side multiple times.

Originally, the other party wanted to build a large power plant, but Li Changhe proposed to build a super-large power plant.

Li Changhe was well aware that a port is not only associated with the port itself, but also with cold chain warehouses, industrial parks, container terminals, and so on, all of which are "electricity hogs".

In fact, the national government and Ningbo had considered this super-large power plant, but the plan was later shelved for no other reason than that the investment was too large.

After all, the country is short of funds. The national power allocation was initially planned at 36 billion yuan two years ago, but it has been reduced year by year, and last year it was only 20.7 billion yuan.

This is funding for the entire national power industry, not just for one power plant; it's even less when distributed across the power sector.

The investment required to build a super-large power plant is at least several billion.

So the plan for this super-large power plant was originally shelved, but Li Changhe's proposal has piqued the country's interest again. After all, if foreign capital is involved, cooperation is theoretically possible.

However, this plan is currently just a plan and still needs to be discussed in detail at the higher levels.

Li Changhe wasn't in a hurry. This kind of thing definitely couldn't be settled in a few months. The negotiations would probably take a year. Besides, even if it was settled, Hong Kong Electric would still need to raise the money.

After all, he still has plans for Daya Bay!
Hong Kong Electric's own Lamma Island power plant, Daya Bay nuclear power plant, and if you add the investment in Ningbo Port, the total amount of money invested in these three projects would be astronomical.

We still need to hurry up and set up a bank. Only with a bank can the flow of funds be facilitated.

Not long after Li Changhe returned to Hong Kong Island, at the Lo Wu border crossing, a bus carrying Gong Xue and the others slowly passed through the border inspection.

They were the first group of members from the exchange program between Planet Films and the Film Bureau.

Both sides agreed to an annual exchange and dialogue, with the mainland sending actors and behind-the-scenes staff to Hong Kong to exchange techniques, while Planet Films would also send a team to the mainland for inspection.

The main focus of the inspection was on filming locations. After all, these days, the domestic film industry doesn't have much technology to speak of, and the biggest advantage of China is still its filming locations.

Li Changhe has always believed that a major factor contributing to the underdevelopment of Hong Kong's film and television culture is the poor location shooting, especially when targeting international audiences, where substandard set design is simply disastrous.

Having such a vast and beautiful land on the mainland, yet remaining stagnant and closed off from the world, it's no wonder that it eventually fell into complete decline.

Although the Freedom Association and funds from Taiwan and mainland China were involved, Li Changhe doesn't care about them now.

Once past the Lo Wu border crossing, the scene on Hong Kong Island gradually came into view.

Wow, this is Hong Kong Island?

"It doesn't look very good, it's just average!"

Someone on the bus looked out the window and couldn't help but grimac.

"This is the New Territories boundary of Hong Kong Island. You can think of it as the countryside. Their urban areas are in Kowloon and Central. Once you get there, you'll know what prosperity is."

On the bus, a staff member from Planet Films, who had been assigned to be the tour guide, overheard the man's complaints and couldn't help but speak up.

Gong Xue was also curiously looking at the scenery outside.

This is Hong Kong Island, the place where I will spend the rest of my life with Changhe.

Sure enough, when the bus left the New Territories and entered the new town of Tuen Mun, some people began to notice the difference.

The new towns of Tuen Mun and Tsuen Wan were planned by the Hong Kong government in the 1970s, so many of the high-rise buildings here are relatively new and look quite nice.

Is this part of the city?

“This is Tuen Mun, a new town planned a few years ago, not considered part of the urban area.”

The staff member wasn't impatient; instead, they explained it to me carefully.

He didn't dare to be sarcastic. Everyone in the company knew that the mysterious Mr. Bao hated it most when people in the company showed disdain for the mainland. Anyone who violated this rule would be fired without hesitation.

This is Mr. Bao's ironclad rule, not only at Planet Cinema, but also reportedly at Hongkong Land.

It seems that Mr. Bao is working closely with the mainland, so he doesn't want this kind of thing to affect his relationship with the mainland.

They don't know if these rumors are true or false, but they absolutely dare not violate them.

After all, everyone in Hong Kong knows that the companies under the Bao family offer the best benefits in the industry. In this respect, Mr. Bao is very generous, which is quite different from many other companies.

Soon, the bus arrived in the city center and then came to Wharf Holdings.

This time, Planet Cinema booked the Marco Polo Hotel for them, which is also a high-end hotel under Wharf Holdings.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we have arrived. This is the hotel that our company has arranged for you."

The group then walked in in a grand procession, and rooms were assigned to everyone according to the pre-assigned rooms.

Gong Xue was naturally assigned a private room, but as soon as she entered and before she could put her things down, there was a knock on the door.

Gong Xue walked over and opened the door. A man and a woman were standing outside.

"Hello, are you Ms. Gong Xue?"

Ah Hu asked respectfully at this moment, even though he had already seen Gong Xue's photo.

"Yes, that's me. And you are?"

"I'm Mr. Bao's driver, you can just call me Ah Hu. Mr. Bao sent me to pick you up!"

Gong Xue knew the name A Hu, and she also knew that A Hu was a trustworthy person who had been brought out of China by Li Changhe.

"Then I'll tell the commander!"

Their exchange group also has a group leader, so Gong Xue must inform the group leader before leaving.

Soon, Gong Xue arrived at the commander's room, knocked on the door, and reported her plans to go out.

The group leader had already received instructions that once they arrived in Hong Kong, Comrade Gong Xue was free to act as she pleased and would not follow the group.

So he didn't stop them and readily let them pass.

Then, Gong Xue went downstairs and got into the car with Ah Hu.

“Madam, her name is Lin Xi, and she works with me and stays by the boss’s side.”

"The boss instructed that Lin Xi will be your driver and bodyguard from now on. You can also arrange for her to handle things at home. She is skilled in medicine and has been here for several years."

After getting into the car, Ah Hu introduced Lin Xi to Gong Xue. Lin Xi was the female doctor who was sent from China years ago. She hadn't had a suitable position for the past few years, but now that Gong Xue had arrived, her tasks suddenly became much heavier.

"You don't need to call me Madam, it sounds a bit awkward to me."

Gong Xue always felt something was off when she heard this title, as if it referred to those who were despised in the old society.

Lin Xi sat in the passenger seat, then turned around and said with a smile, "Madam, you're new here, so you'll have to get used to some of the ways people address you here." "Many outdated customs from the old society still exist in Hong Kong, including how servants are addressed as 'Master' or 'Madam,' since they still had concubines before 72."

"So there are some things we have to follow in order to cover up, otherwise we will be ridiculed by other families when we go out, and others will laugh at us for being unruly."

"Of course, the Bao family is now the most prestigious and powerful family here, and the boss rarely interacts with other families, so generally speaking, there's nothing to worry about."

"Just in case, you'll have to get used to these titles and terms, including those for the household servants."

"And you can't be too kind to those people. If you're too honest, they won't take your kindness as a favor. They'll just think you're easy to bully."

Lin Xi then spoke seriously.

She actually started by managing the luxury mansions in Deep Water Bay for Li Changhe. At first, Lin Xi was kind to the servants on Hong Kong Island, but she gradually realized that if you are kind to them, they will not be kind to you.

Especially after it was discovered that Li Changhe was rarely around, these people repeatedly engaged in shirking their duties, forming cliques, and outwardly complying while inwardly opposing the agreement.

So over the years, Lin Xi's skills as a butler have improved day by day, not to mention other skills. In particular, she even took time to attend a training course for British butlers in Hong Kong Island for a period of time.

Gong Xue was slightly taken aback upon hearing Lin Xi's words.

"Okay, I understand. Please help me out in the future!"

Gong Xue sincerely told the two that since Li Changhe had arranged for them to come, they could definitely be trusted.

"Don't worry, Madam, these things are actually easy to manage. You just need to be less kind and fire anyone who makes you uncomfortable."

“You are the one who pays their salaries. There are plenty of servants all over Hong Kong Island who want to work in Deep Water Bay. As long as you are not deceived by them, things are not as complicated as you think.”

Lin Xi then spoke up to comfort her, saying that some things are simply a matter of changing one's mindset. Once you change your mindset, things become very simple.

Gong Xue nodded and didn't say anything more, but looked out at the tall buildings outside the car window.

"This is the Hung Hom Tunnel, an undersea tunnel connecting Kowloon and Hong Kong Island."

"After passing through the tunnel, this side is Hong Kong Island, where a large number of business companies and elites are concentrated."

"The place we've come to is called Causeway Bay. Madam, look at those most beautiful buildings over there. That's Times Square, which was just built by Boss's real estate company."

"And if you look west, those skyscrapers closest to the sea, that area is called Central. Most of the buildings in Central are owned by the boss's companies."

Lin Xi then casually introduced Gong Xue to some of the geographical locations they were passing by and Li Changhe's businesses, leaving Gong Xue feeling quite confused.

Are all those tall buildings over there by the sea part of the long river?

And that beautiful building complex we just saw, it looks very high-end, was it also built by Changhe?
Previously, Gong Xue only had a numerical concept of Li Changhe's wealth: he made a lot of money, more than he could spend, and invested a lot in the country.

However, Gong Xue did not have a clear concept of what level it was.

Now, looking at the towering skyscrapers that stand along the coastline in the distance, Gong Xue has a clear understanding for the first time.

Soon, the car drove into Deep Water Bay and arrived at Li Changhe's mansion there.

"Madam, we've arrived. This is the boss's home on Hong Kong Island, and of course, it will also be your home from now on!"

After getting out of the car, Lin Xi whispered to Gong Xue.

Gong Xue looked at the mansion in front of her, but she wasn't too surprised.

She had accompanied Li Changhe to see many old villas in Shanghai and courtyard houses in Beijing, so these kinds of mansions were just so-so to her.

Just then, Li Changhe came out of the villa.

Upon seeing this, Gong Xue quickly walked over.

"coming?"

"Ok!"

The two of them didn't say much, mainly because there were quite a few people following behind Li Changhe.

"This is my fiancée, Gong Xue, who will also be the mistress of this place from now on. Please get to know her."

Li Changhe turned around and spoke earnestly to some of the servants in the house.

"Meet Madam!"

The group of people had already received instructions, and upon seeing Li Changhe's solemn introduction, they immediately bowed their heads respectfully.

"Hello!"

Gong Xue spoke somewhat reservedly, and Lin Xi, who was behind her, couldn't help but shake her head slightly upon seeing this.

It seems her words on the way were in vain.

It's okay, I'll just reprimand these people after the boss and she go upstairs.

"Come on, I'll take you upstairs to have a look!"

At this moment, Li Changhe led Gong Xue upstairs.

"This is our bedroom, and next to it is my study!"

"You can see the sea view in the distance from here. You can sit here when you have time."

"By the way, do you see that big house over there? That's my uncle's family's house."

"Let's go to their house for dinner tonight."

Li Changhe led Gong Xue on a tour of the area, explaining the surroundings to her.

However, as he continued talking, he noticed that Gong Xue seemed somewhat distracted.

"What's wrong? You seem a little unhappy?"

Li Changhe asked curiously at this moment.

Upon hearing Li Changhe's question, Gong Xue hesitated for a moment before hugging him.

"Chang Ayang, I didn't actually have much of an idea about coming here before."

"But now that I've seen all this, I'm suddenly a little scared."

"These places are all too nice; they should rightfully belong to Sister Linlin!"

The extravagance displayed on Hong Kong Island made Gong Xue feel uneasy.

After all, theoretically speaking, these are things that Zhu Lin should be enjoying.

Upon hearing this, Li Changhe paused for a moment, then sighed: "Let's not talk about these things here. Your roles and responsibilities are all different."

Yes, Zhu Lin didn't enjoy these things, but conversely, in Li Changhe's mind, Zhu Lin's side was actually the safest, with almost no risk.

Gong Xue seemed to be enjoying a life of luxury, but she also became Bao Zeyang's wife, making her a sitting duck.

If Li Changhe's identity is not exposed, things might be fine, but if someone with ulterior motives investigates, Gong Xue's danger will increase significantly.

Therefore, some things cannot be measured or compared simply by monetary value.

(End of this chapter)